Smoking cessation Flashcards
Introduce then explain basis of convo
So today we’re here to have a chat about your smoking. I appreciate that it might seem unusual to be asked about it here at the dentist, but as a health professional it’s my responsibility to give you all the information you need to know about smoking and potentially even stopping smoking. If there is anything you’d like to ask please stop me at any point.
Ask
So, I’d just like to get a bit of an idea of where you’re at with your smoking.
How long have you smoked for?
How many do you smoke per day?
What kind of cigarette do you smoke? (cigarettes or rollups? If rollups, do you use a filter?)
Have you ever considered quitting? Why do you think it didn’t work out?
Advise
Stopping smoking isn’t an easy thing to do, and we don’t expect it to happen overnight.
As I’m sure you already know, smoking is dangerous for your body, and it doesn’t only affect your lungs and heart and other organs, but your mouth and teeth too, such as staining, bad breath, gum disease and more serious conditions like cancer. Not to mention how expensive it gets!
There are so many health benefits to stopping smoking and they start to happen really soon after your last cigarette. For example, after only 20 minutes, your blood pressure goes back to normal and it only takes 12 hours to get the right amount of oxygen back in your body. After about 3 days, your body is completely nicotine free, meaning you’re breathing really easy again. Smoking can affect your gums and teeth, but after only 2 weeks, the blood circulation in them is the same as a non-smoker, and your risk of mouth and throat cancer will soon reduce too.
Do you live with anyone? They’ll benefit too/you could do it together.
Assess
Does this sound like something you’d be interested in?
Assist
It’s excellent that you are so motivated to stop.
We now know that the most effective way to stop smoking is a combination of support and some kind of medication, like nicotine replacement therapy. Would it be ok for me to get in touch with your GP to involve them with this process too?
Here is a leaflet with a bit more information. There’s also websites and numbers on the back where you can find more advice, help and support.
Arrange
So how about we say that by our next appointment, you aim to have booked an appointment with the stop smoking services? We can take this in small steps and you aren’t on your own in doing it.
Conclusion
Is there anything you’d like to ask, or like me to go over again?
